Personality, perceived environment and behavior systems related to internet addiction; A study based on problem behavior theory

The aim of this study is to examine university students' personality, perceived environment, and behavioral systems associated with internet addiction based on Problem Behavior Theory. For this purpose, a correlational design was used within the framework of a quantitative research approach. The sample of the study consisted of 492 university students who were continuing their education in the 2023-2024 academic year, including 359 women (73%) and 133 men (27%). Data were collected using the "Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form," "Interpersonal Communication Competence Inventory (ICCI)," "General Belongingness Scale (GBS)," "Risky Internet Behaviors Questionnaire (RIBQ)," "Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form (DERS-16)," and the "McGill Friendship Questionnaire." To analyze the data, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between internet addiction and personality, perceived environment, and behavioral systems. Additionally, hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the extent to which these variables predict internet addiction. According to the findings, difficulties in emotion regulation, interpersonal communication competence, sense of belonging, peer relationships, and risky internet behaviors were significant predictors of internet addiction among university students, explaining 36% of the total variance in internet addiction. This result provides a framework for identifying risk and protective factors related to problematic behaviors associated with internet addiction and contributes to the development of prevention and intervention programs for internet addiction.